Twist Locking Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A twist locking apparatus includes a male locking member and a female locking member. The male locking member is selectively engaged with the female locking member in order to attach two different materials as the two different materials are separately connected with the male locking member and the female locking member. A first locking flange and a second locking flange of the male locking member engage with a first locking track and a second locking track of the female locking member so that the twist locking apparatus can be easily and efficiently rotated in between an unsecured configuration and a secured configuration in order to attach the two different materials.

The current application is a continuation of U.S. Utility Patent application 14/226,455 filed Mar. 26, 2014 which is a 371 of international PCT Application PCT/US2013/030873 filed on Mar. 13, 2013.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for a locking system. More specifically, the present invention is a twist locking apparatus that efficiently secures two different components in order to withstand the tension, pressure, and the stress of the two different components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many different attachment systems are used within different apparatus so that two different components can be attached together by the attachment systems. The conventional attachment systems, include, but are not limited, button and hole fastening systems, magnetic fastening systems, bolt and nut fastening systems, and buckle fastening systems. All of the existing attachment systems allow the users to secure and unsecure two different components upon their discretion. Depending on different apparatus and how much force that the attachment system can absorb, the attachment system can differ from one apparatus to another. For example, snap fasteners that include male and female portions are used within clothing industry to attach and combine different materials. This is an efficient method within the clothing industry due to the lightweight property of the garment materials. However, button fasteners don't consider as an efficient attachment system in between two metal plates due to the excessive amount of weight. Additionally, the male and female portion of the snap fastener can disengage from one another without any notification to the user if excessive amount of force is applied to the snap fastener. Most of the other existing attachment systems that provide a secured attachment between two different components either take up a lot time to put together due to their component configurations or may not be feasible with smaller components that need to be attached.

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a quick connecting and disconnecting twist locking attachment apparatus that can securely attach two different components. The invention comprises a male portion and a female portion, where the male portion is efficiently and securely attached with the female portion. The male portion and the female portion are generally connected with the two different components so that the two different components can be attached to each other through the present invention. Once the male portion and the female portion are combined, the male portion and the female portion form a single component which can withstand great tension, pressure, and stress. The present invention can be adapted for use in any situation especially where great tension, pressure and stress are needed for two separate items that need to be secured together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the male locking member of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the male locking member of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the female locking member of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the female locking member of the present invention, wherein the dash lines illustrate the locking housing of the female locking member.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the female locking member of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the female locking member of the present invention, wherein the first locking track is shown.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the female locking member of the present invention, wherein the second locking track is shown.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is in the unsecured configuration.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is in the secured configuration.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is in the unsecured configuration without the first attachment member.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the present invention, wherein the present invention is in the secured configuration without the first attachment member.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the present invention with the first embodiments of the first attachment member and the second attachment member.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the present invention with the second embodiments of the first attachment member and the second attachment member.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the male locking member of the present invention with the second embodiments of the first attachment member.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a twist locking apparatus, where the present invention efficiently and securely attaches two different components into a single unit. In reference to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a male locking member 1 and a female locking member 2, and the male locking member 1 and the female locking member 2 are selectively engaged with each other so that the two different components can be attached to each other. Generally, the male locking member 1 is connected with a first attachment member 3, and the female locking member 2 is connected with a second attachment member 4, where the first attachment member 3 and the second attachment member 4 are attached together by the engagement of the male locking member 1 and the female locking member 2 to form the single unit. The present invention can utilize any type of materials, components, or systems that need to be attached together as the first attachment member 3 and the second attachment member 4. The male locking member 1 moves in between an unsecured configuration and a secured configuration for the efficient functionality of the present invention. More specifically, the unsecured configuration allows the male locking member 1 and the female locking member 2 to separate from one another while the secured configuration restricts the separation of the male locking member 1 and the female locking member 2 from one another.

In reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the male locking member 1 comprises a cylindrical stem 11, a first locking flange 14, and a second locking flange 15. The cylindrical stem 11 that moves in and out from the female locking member 2 comprises a top end 12 and a bottom end 13, where the top end 12 is oppositely positioned from the bottom end 13 along the cylindrical stem 11. The top end 12 firmly and adjacently connects with the first attachment member 3, which needs to be attached with the second attachment member 4, and the first locking flange 14 and the second locking flange 15 are connected to the stem. More specifically, the first locking flange 14 and the second locking flange 15 are adjacently positioned with the bottom end 13 in such way that the first locking flange 14 is diametrically opposed from the second locking flange 15.

In reference to FIG. 1, the female locking member 2 comprises a base 21 and a locking housing 25, where the locking housing 25 is connected to the base 21 and positioned atop the base 21. The base 21 firmly connects with the second attachment member 4 that needs to be attached with the first attachment member 3 so that the locking housing 25 can accept the male locking member 1 along with the first attachment member 3.

In reference to FIG. 4-FIG. 8, the base 21 comprises a top surface 22, a bottom surface 23, and a lateral surface 24. The top surface 22 is oppositely positioned from the bottom surface 23. The top surface 22 is adjacently connected with the locking housing 25, and the bottom surface 23 firmly connects the base 21 with the second attachment member 4. The lateral surface 24 is perimetrically connected around the top surface 22 and the bottom surface 23 in such way that the lateral surface 24 is positioned in between the top surface 22 and the bottom surface 23.

In reference to FIG. 4-FIG. 8, the locking housing 25 comprises a top plane 26, a lateral plane 27, a central cavity 28, a first guide rail 29, a second guide rail 30, a first locking track 31, and a second locking track 32. The lateral plane 27 is perimetrically positioned around the top plane 26 in order to create the main body of the locking housing 25. The central cavity 28 that receives the cylindrical stem 11 is traversed through the locking housing 25 from the top plane 26 to the top surface 22 as the central cavity 28 is concentrically positioned with the top plane 26. The first guide rail 29 that receives the first locking flange 14 and the second guide rail 30 that receives the second locking flange 15 are traversed into locking housing 25 from the central cavity 28. More specifically, the first guide rail 29 and the second guide rail 30 are radially positioned around the central cavity 28 in such way that the first guide rail 29 is diametrically opposed from the second guide rail 30. The first locking track 31 and the second locking track 32 are traversed through the locking housing 25 from the lateral plane 27 to the central cavity 28, where the first locking track 31 and the second locking track 32 are perpendicularly positioned with the central cavity 28. More specifically, the first locking track 31 and the second locking track 32 are radially positioned around the central cavity 28, where the first locking track 31 and the second locking track 32 are diametrically opposed from each other. The first locking track 31 and the second locking track 32 are oppositely positioned from the top plane 26 in such way that the first locking track 31 and the second locking track 32 are adjacently positioned with the top surface 22.

The engagement between the male locking member 1 and the female locking member 2 is shown within FIG. 9-FIG. 12, where the first locking flange 14 is selectively engaged with the first locking track 31 through the first guide rail 29, and the second locking flange 15 is selectively engaged with the second locking track 32 through the second guide rail 30. More specifically, the first locking track 31 and the second locking track 32 each comprise a proximal end 33 and a distal end 34. The proximal end 33 of the first locking track 31 is adjacently positioned with the first guide rail 29, and the distal end 34 of the first locking track 31 is oppositely positioned from the proximal end 33 of the first locking track 31. Similarly, the proximal end 33 of the second locking track 32 is adjacently positioned with the second guide rail 30, and the distal end 34 of the second locking track 32 is oppositely positioned from the proximal end 33 of the second locking track 32. In order to properly position the first locking member 1 with respect to the second locking member 2, the users need to align the first locking flange 14 with the first guide rail 29 and the second locking flange 15 with the second guide rail 30. Once the male locking member 1 is inserted into the female locking member 2 through the first guide rail 29 and the second guide rail 30, the first locking flange 14 and the second locking flange 15 can be respectively moved in between the proximal end 33 and the distal end 34 of the first locking track 31 and the second locking track 32. As a result, the present invention is able to move in between the unsecured configuration and the secured configuration.

In reference to FIG. 9-FIG. 12, the present invention is considered to be in the unsecured configuration when the first locking flange 14 is adjacently positioned with the proximal end 33 of the first locking track 31 and the second locking flange 15 is adjacently positioned with the proximal end 33 of the second locking track 32. The unsecured configuration allows the users of the present invention to easily separate the male locking member 1 and the female locking member 2 apart from each other so that the first attachment member 3 and the second attachment member 4 can also be separated from each other. The present invention is considered to be in the secured configuration when the first locking flange 14 is adjacently positioned with the distal end 34 of the first locking track 31 and the second locking flange 15 is adjacently positioned with the distal end 34 of the second locking track 32. The secured configuration prevents the separation of the male locking member 1 and the female locking member 2 apart from each other, providing a secured attachment in between the first attachment member 3 and second attachment member 4. When the male locking member 1 is inserted into the female locking member 2, the present invention is positioned within the unsecured configuration. Then the user can rotated the male locking member 1 into the secured configuration in order to jointly secure both the first attachment member 3 and the second attachment member 4. When the first attachment member 3 and the second attachment member 4 need to be separated from each other, the present invention is required to rotate back to the unsecured configuration from the secured configuration.

In reference to FIG. 13-FIG. 15, the present invention can be positioned in between different embodiments of the first attachment member 3 and the second attachment member 4, as long as the male locking member 1 and the female locking member 2 are able to fully connect with the first attachment member 3 and the second attachment member 4. The male locking member 1 and the female locking member 2 can utilize any type of connection methods to connect with the first attachment member 3 and the second attachment member 4, where the connection method can include, but is not limited to, adhesive materials, molding, and stitching.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A twist locking apparatus comprises: a male locking member; a female locking member; the male locking member comprises a cylindrical stem, a first locking flange, and a second locking flange; the female locking member comprises a base and a locking housing; the locking housing comprises a top plane, a lateral plane, a central cavity, a first guide rail, a second guide rail, a first locking track, and a second locking track; the locking housing being connected to the base and positioned atop the base; and the male locking member being selectively engaged with the female locking member, wherein the male locking member moves in between an unsecured configuration and a secured configuration.
 2. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the cylindrical stem comprises a top end and bottom end; the top end being oppositely positioned from the bottom end along the cylindrical stem; the top end being adjacently connected with a first attachment member; the first locking flange and the second locking flange being connected to the stem; the first locking flange and the second locking flange being adjacently positioned with the bottom end; and the first locking flange being diametrically opposed from the second locking flange.
 3. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the base comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and a lateral surface; the top surface being oppositely positioned from the bottom surface; the lateral surface being perimetrically connected around the top surface and the bottom surface; and the lateral surface being positioned in between the top surface and the bottom surface.
 4. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the lateral plane being perimetrically positioned around the top plane; the central cavity traversing through the locking housing from the top plane; the central cavity being concentrically positioned with the top plane; the first guide rail and the second guide rail traversing into the locking housing from the central cavity; the first guide rail and the second guide rail being radially positioned around the central cavity; the first guide rail being diametrically opposed from the second guide rail; the first locking track and the second locking track traversing through the locking housing from the lateral plane to the central cavity; the first locking track and the second locking track being radially positioned around the central cavity; the first locking track and the second locking track being oppositely positioned from the top plane; and the first locking track being diametrically opposed from the second locking track.
 5. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the top surface being connected with the locking housing; and the first locking track and the second locking track being adjacently positioned with the top surface.
 6. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the first locking flange being selectively engaged with the first locking track through the first guide rail; the second locking flange being selectively engaged with the second locking track through the second guide rail; the first locking track and the second locking track each comprise a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end of the first locking track being adjacently positioned with the first guide rail; the distal end of the first locking track being oppositely positioned from the proximal end of the first locking track; the proximal end of the second locking track being adjacently positioned with the second guide rail; and the distal end of the second locking track being oppositely positioned from the proximal end of the second locking track.
 7. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprises: the unsecured configuration; the first locking flange being adjacently positioned with the first guide rail and the proximal end of the first locking track; and the second locking flange being adjacently positioned with the second guide rail and the proximal end of the second locking track.
 8. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprises: the secured configuration; the first locking flange being adjacently positioned with the distal end of the first locking track; and the second locking flange being adjacently positioned with the distal end of the second locking track.
 9. A twist locking apparatus comprises: a male locking member; a female locking member; the male locking member comprises a cylindrical stem, a first locking flange, and a second locking flange; the cylindrical stem comprises a top end and bottom end; the female locking member comprises a base and a locking housing; the locking housing comprises a top plane, a lateral plane, a central cavity, a first guide rail, a second guide rail, a first locking track, and a second locking track; the top end being oppositely positioned from the bottom end along the cylindrical stem; the first locking flange and the second locking flange being connected to the stem; the first locking flange and the second locking flange being adjacently positioned with the bottom end; the first locking flange being diametrically opposed from the second locking flange; the locking housing being connected to the base and positioned atop the base; and the male locking member being selectively engaged with the female locking member, wherein the male locking member moves in between an unsecured configuration and a secured configuration.
 10. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprises: the base comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and a lateral surface; the top surface being oppositely positioned from the bottom surface; the lateral surface being perimetrically connected around the top surface and the bottom surface; and the lateral surface being positioned in between the top surface and the bottom surface.
 11. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprises: the lateral plane being perimetrically positioned around the top plane; the central cavity traversing through the locking housing from the top plane; the central cavity being concentrically positioned with the top plane; the first guide rail and the second guide rail traversing into the locking housing from the central cavity; the first guide rail and the second guide rail being radially positioned around the central cavity; the first guide rail being diametrically opposed from the second guide rail; the first locking track and the second locking track traversing through the locking housing from the lateral plane to the central cavity; the first locking track and the second locking track being radially positioned around the central cavity; the first locking track and the second locking track being oppositely positioned from the top plane; and the first locking track being diametrically opposed from the second locking track.
 12. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprises: the top surface being connected with the locking housing; and the first locking track and the second locking track being adjacently positioned with the top surface.
 13. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprises: the first locking flange being selectively engaged with the first locking track through the first guide rail; the second locking flange being selectively engaged with the second locking track through the second guide rail; the first locking track and the second locking track each comprise a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end of the first locking track being adjacently positioned with the first guide rail; the distal end of the first locking track being oppositely positioned from the proximal end of the first locking track; the proximal end of the second locking track being adjacently positioned with the second guide rail; the distal end of the second locking track being oppositely positioned from the proximal end of the second locking track; and the top end being adjacently connected with a first attachment member.
 14. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 13 comprises: the unsecured configuration; the first locking flange being adjacently positioned with the first guide rail and the proximal end of the first locking track; and the second locking flange being adjacently positioned with the second guide rail and the proximal end of the second locking track.
 15. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 13 comprises: the secured configuration; the first locking flange being adjacently positioned with the distal end of the first locking track; and the second locking flange being adjacently positioned with the distal end of the second locking track.
 16. A twist locking apparatus comprises: a male locking member; a female locking member; the male locking member comprises a cylindrical stem, a first locking flange, and a second locking flange; the cylindrical stem comprises a top end and bottom end; the female locking member comprises a base and a locking housing; the base comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and a lateral surface; the locking housing comprises a top plane, a lateral plane, a central cavity, a first guide rail, a second guide rail, a first locking track, and a second locking track; the top end being oppositely positioned from the bottom end along the cylindrical stem; the first locking flange and the second locking flange being connected to the stem; the first locking flange and the second locking flange being adjacently positioned with the bottom end; the first locking flange being diametrically opposed from the second locking flange; the top surface being oppositely positioned from the bottom surface; the lateral surface being perimetrically connected around the top surface and the bottom surface; the lateral surface being positioned in between the top surface and the bottom surface; the locking housing being connected to the base and positioned atop the base; and the male locking member being selectively engaged with the female locking member, wherein the male locking member moves in between an unsecured configuration and a secured configuration.
 17. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 16 comprises: the lateral plane being perimetrically positioned around the top plane; the central cavity traversing through the locking housing from the top plane; the central cavity being concentrically positioned with the top plane; the first guide rail and the second guide rail traversing into the locking housing from the central cavity; the first guide rail and the second guide rail being radially positioned around the central cavity; the first guide rail being diametrically opposed from the second guide rail; the first locking track and the second locking track traversing through the locking housing from the lateral plane to the central cavity; the first locking track and the second locking track being radially positioned around the central cavity; the first locking track and the second locking track being oppositely positioned from the top plane; the first locking track being diametrically opposed from the second locking track; the top surface being connected with the locking housing; and the first locking track and the second locking track being adjacently positioned with the top surface.
 18. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 16 comprises: the first locking flange being selectively engaged with the first locking track through the first guide rail; the second locking flange being selectively engaged with the second locking track through the second guide rail; the first locking track and the second locking track each comprise a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end of the first locking track being adjacently positioned with the first guide rail; the distal end of the first locking track being oppositely positioned from the proximal end of the first locking track; the proximal end of the second locking track being adjacently positioned with the second guide rail; the distal end of the second locking track being oppositely positioned from the proximal end of the second locking track; and the top end being adjacently connected with a first attachment member.
 19. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 18 comprises: the unsecured configuration; the first locking flange being adjacently positioned with the first guide rail and the proximal end of the first locking track; and the second locking flange being adjacently positioned with the second guide rail and the proximal end of the second locking track.
 20. The twist locking apparatus as claimed in claim 18 comprises: the secured configuration; the first locking flange being adjacently positioned with the distal end of the first locking track; and the second locking flange being adjacently positioned with the distal end of the second locking track. 